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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






2. A lighthearted piece - written in several movements - usually as background music for a social function.






3. A musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.






4. A curve over notes to indicate that a phrase is to be played legato.






5. The retuning of a stringed instrument in order to play notes below the ordinary range of the instrument or to produce an usual tone color.






6. Elaborate polyphonic composition of the Boroque and Renaissance periods.






7. A portion of the range of the instrument or voice.






8. Quick repetition of the same note or the rapid alternation between two notes.






9. The element of music pertaining to time - played as a grouping of notes into accented and unaccented beats.






10. A chord comprised of three whole tones resulting in an augmented fourth or diminished fifth.






11. A combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments.






12. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






13. A period in history during the 18th and early 19th centuries where the focus shifted from the neoclassical style to an emotional - expressive - and imaginative style.






14. A book of text containing the words of an opera.






15. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






16. Unmusical - without tone.






17. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






18. In sheet music - a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff.






19. A musical theme given to a particular idea or main character of an opera.






20. Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.






21. The tonal characteristics determined by the relationship of the notes to the tone.






22. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






23. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






24. A musical form where the principal theme is repeated several times. The rondo was often used for the final movements of classical sonata form works.






25. Includes all twelve notes of an octave.






26. Three to four movement orchestral piece - generally in sonata form.






27. Refers to any great composer - conductor - or teacher of music.






28. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played smoothly.






29. Three notes played in the same amount of time as one or two beats.






30. Initially an improvised cadence by a soloist; later becoming an elaborate and written out passage in an aria or concerto - featuring the skills of an instrumentalist or vocalist.






31. Lowest female singing voice.






32. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






33. A string of chords played in succession.






34. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






35. A form of music written for marching in two-step time. Originally the march was used for military processions.






36. The retuning of a stringed instrument in order to play notes below the ordinary range of the instrument or to produce an usual tone color.






37. A sequence of chords that brings an end to a phrase - either in the middle or the end of a composition.






38. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






39. A loose collection of instrumental compositions.






40. A 19th century square dance written for 4 couples.






41. String instruments that are picked instead of bowed.






42. The flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line indicating the key of music the piece is to be played.






43. A composition written for nine instruments.






44. Time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. Characterized by emotional - flowery music; written in strict form.






45. A contrapuntal song written for at least three voices - usually without accompaniment.






46. A curve over notes to indicate that a phrase is to be played legato.






47. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.






48. Combination of two or more keys being played at the same time.






49. A contrapuntal song written for at least three voices - usually without accompaniment.






50. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.